Sports

No need to panic, says Blast GM

Brantford Blast fan favourite Shayne Salmon hunts for the puck during a game last season against the Whitby Dunlops. Salmon is back for a third season with the Blast, who begin the home portion of their 2016-17 Allan Cup Hockey season on Friday at the civic centre with a 7:30 p.m. game against the Dundas Real McCoys. (Photo by Lyan Photography (www.lyanphotography.com)

After two losses to start the Allan Cup Hockey season, the Brantford Blast will be looking for their first win of the campaign on Friday when they host the Dundas Real McCoys in a 7:30 p.m. game at the civic centre.

Although some Blast fans may be nervous, don’t count Brantford owner and general manager Peter Ham among them.

“Oh, no,” he said. “We’ve been playing quite a few rookies and seeing what we’ve got. We know how our vets play.

“We have to find out if these (rookies) can play at this level. Some you can tell quickly whether they’re going to be able to cut it, others need a little more time.

“I’m not panicking. We’re going to fill all the holes we need to fill.”

And with that, everyone can exhale.

In its first two games – a 7-4 loss in Stoney Creek on Oct. 15 to the Generals and an 8-3 loss to the Dunlops on Oct. 22 in Whitby – Brantford dressed a number of ACH newcomers. After those games, Ham has his eyes on a few of the rookies but his highest praise was for a rookie defenceman.

“I really like Nathan Ferris,” said Ham, who has also been impressed with forward Mitch Green. “I just think he has so much potential. He’s physical and he’s got a lot of push back. He’s a great kid who loves to learn. You can’t move him off the puck too easily.

“With his attitude and working with some of our vets, he could be a good player.”

Speaking of good players, Blast fans will get their first look on Friday at several important veterans including Joel Prpic, Sam Milligan, Dave Russell and Kevin Christmas. New players Shane Terry, who played for Whitby in the past, and Charlie Stephens, a former NHLer with 15 years of professional experience, will make their civic centre debuts.

“I am excited to hit the ice on Friday for the first time in Brantford,” Stephens said in a release. “From what I have been hearing the Blast fans are by far the best fans in the league. It will be my first home game and hopefully our first win of the season.”

Although Brandon Dietrich and Mike Burgoyne will be coming later, when they arrive they’ll make a big difference along with the aforementioned players.

“When you get the Prpics and the Stephens and the Dietrichs and the quality players that played in an elite league in Europe or North America, it brings a whole different presence to your dressing room and on the ice,” said Ham.

Things got off to a quick start this season. Ham said the Blast usually don’t play their first game of the season until late October or early November and this year that was bumped up a couple of weeks earlier.

With two games now under their belts, the Blast should be getting their legs underneath them. Not only will Friday’s game be huge because it’s the home opener but it is also the team’s annual United Way game.

“We’re tremendously excited about what’s going on because not only are we going to introduce some new players and have the majority of our vets back, we’re going to have an impact on the community with our United Way night,” Ham said.

“We’re expecting between 2, 000 and 3,000.”

The game will be used to help raise funds for the United Way. Along with prizes and giveaways throughout the night, game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the United Way.

With five straight trips to the ACH final – and wins in 2013 and 2014 – Ham expects his team to be in the thick of the race. However, right now, the defending champs are the team to beat.

“I’m very excited,” Ham said. “Stoney Creek kind of set the bar last year. They were extremely exciting to watch and highly skilled and they’ve added to that.

“We have to keep our eye on Stoney Creek. They’re our target right now. They are going to be spectacular to watch when they come into our building.

“It’s going to be a close league again but I would say the No. 1 seed again this year is Stoney Creek.”

ICE CHIPS . . . Jeff Caister has returned as Brantford’s playing coach while Darren Watson runs the bench . . . Fans at each home game this season will win a free Harvey’s burger if the Blast score five or more goals in a game . . . Adults still receive a $10 OLG Casino Brantford voucher at each game . . . Two fans will win a pair of passes to the Hockey Hall of Fame.